ExhibitsExhibitshttp://www.historyandheritage.ca/exhibits/2013-01-08T20:45:23ZSquarespaceVirtual. History. The 3D architectural illustrations of Oscar Luna Martinez.http://www.historyandheritage.ca/exhibits/2013/1/7/virtual-history-the-3d-architectural-illustrations-of-oscar.htmlH+H2013-01-07T19:28:48Z2013-01-07T19:28:48ZOscar Luna Martinez is originally from Mexico City. He grew up in Montreal and now lives in Hamilton. He is a trained graphic artist with a keen interest in architectural illustration. Oscar is another example of the content for HIStory + HERitage’s exhibitions walking through the front door. Oscar showed me his illustrations of the Lister Block and that led to a discussion of a broader exhibition which includes Oscar’s fully rendered 3D illustrations of the Lister Block, the Pigott building, and an amazing re-creation of Hamilton’s old city hall that was located on James Street North that was demolished in 1962. There is a clip of the 3D animation of the old city hall on HIStory + HERitage’s website that gives you a very good idea of what you’ll be experiencing at the exhibition which opens January 11 and runs until March 8, 2013.

South Durand is home to one of the best and most architecturally diverse collections of pre-war residential architecture in Canada. Constructed from the 1850’s to the 1930’s, a time when the revival styles of architecture where in fashion and Hamilton’s economy was booming, the owners and architects who built here had the freedom to express themselves through architecture. Owners could choose a style that best expressed their heritage or financial status and they had the means to build on an ambitious scale with quality materials and talented craftsmen. This resulted in homes that are excellent examples of an amazing array of architectural styles; Gothic Revival, Tudor Revival, Classical Revival and many that combine multiple architectural styles or experiment with new ones in a spirit of innovation and one up-man-ship that one still feels walking in the neighbourhood today.

Although not as highly valued in monetary terms as similar neighbourhoods such as Toronto’s Rosedale or Montreal’s Mount Royal over time South Durand has retained its’ architectural value better than these places. Infused with a culture of conservation and an understanding of the uniqueness of their homes by the activism of the Durand neighbourhood Association in the 1970s and 80s the home owners in the neighbourhood have embraced and protected the architecture of their homes. There have been very few unsympathetic additions, renovations or new developments over the last fifty years. Let us hope that this culture of conservation continues and that this irreplaceable collection of magnificent residential architecture is maintained as its architectural value is sure to increase far into the future.

Ken Coit

B.E.S., B. Arch

Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Hamilton Region Branch

]]>Do You Love Your City?http://www.historyandheritage.ca/exhibits/2011/10/29/do-you-love-your-city.htmlH+H2011-10-29T17:30:29Z2011-10-29T17:30:29ZPersonal reflections on being in love with the place you call home.

This is a reading of an article I wrote that appears in the November 2011 edition of urbanicity. It's from the heart - 100%.

SLEEK 2 is coming to Hamilton HIStory + HERitage on November 11 and runs until February 10, 2012. The exhibition features another 6 modernist residential residences designed by Canadian architects between 1955 and 1975.

For each of the homes, the exhibition will feature exteriors, interiors, facts about the home and the architect, floor plans.

A beautiful book of photographs and facts will feature 12 SLEEK homes. It will make a great holiday gift or personal keepsake.

Stay tuned.

]]>Come On-A My House - Growing Up Italian In Hamilton's North Endhttp://www.historyandheritage.ca/exhibits/2011/4/5/come-on-a-my-house-growing-up-italian-in-hamiltons-north-end.htmlH+H2011-04-05T18:42:45Z2011-04-05T18:42:45ZCome On-A My House – Growing Up Italian in Hamilton’s North End is an exhibition that began fortuitously. Andrea Malloni, granddaughter of Anita Malloni who had passed away in early 2010, came in with a book under her arm. It was a tribute that she and Len her dad and son of Anita, had put together for family members.

The book includes remarkable family photographs dating as far back as the 1920’s, as well as recipes from Anita’s own hand-written recipe book. The photographs reveal the story of Italian immigrant family and their life in Hamilton’s North End on Bay Street North where Anita’s parents and her own house still stand today. The recipes reveal a culture of food, from taralli, to stuffed Ascolano olives, to ravioli. All done Anita’s way.

The exhibition includes dozens of photographs and a 15 minute multi-media piece that tells the story of Anita Malloni. Of her marriage to Umberto. Of her children Laura, Rosemarie, Len and Albert.

Whether you’re Italian, or another nationality whose family came to Canada and to Hamilton in particular, you’ll see your own family history reflected in this exhibition.

]]>SLEEK: Hamilton's Modernist Residential Architecture 1950-1975http://www.historyandheritage.ca/exhibits/2010/10/31/sleek-hamiltons-modernist-residential-architecture-1950-1975.htmlH+H2010-11-01T01:24:15Z2010-11-01T01:24:15ZWhether called a house, a home, a residence, a dwelling, or simply a place, always we make it possessive. It’s our house. Their place. My home. Whether grand or humble, unique or ubiquitous,traditional or modern, it's never about the materials, or the size to which we lay claim It's to the idea of aspace, an enclosure, a vessel made personal by what we put in it, and by how we live our lives within it. Combining personal possessions and a chosen lifestyle to fashion an individual experience.

From just after the turn of the last century, a new approach to residential, commercial and institutionalarchitecture was evident in Europe and North America. Sleek lines, industrial materials, open and integrated spaces, little or no ornamentation, all were the antithesis of the styles which preceded what would be called the International Style and Modernism. The term Mid-Century Modern focuses on the period of Modernism from the 1950's through to the mid 1970's. It is this period that SLEEK - Hamilton's Modernist Residential Architecture, celebrates.

Each of the residences in this exhibition have a special provenance and singularity. Each was designed by an architect, mostly for specific clients. Each is designed in the modern style. Each is located in the now amalgamated City of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Each was constructed between 1950 and 1975.

Each is still a home. Where the original owners have moved on, others have moved in. Most are in original condition. They continue now as they did then, as unique statements to a very modern way of living.

Hamilton HIStory + HERitage would like to thank each of the owners of the marvelous homes featured in this exhibition. We thank them for allowing us to showcase the beauty, elegance and uniqueness of the places each of them call home. We’d also like to thank architect Tony Butler, photographer Jeff Tessier, printer Tom Kelly of CopyDog, and Brian Kowalewicz and Paul Dolanjski of Historical Hamilton, for their remarkable work in helping to make this exhibition possible.

]]>fragments - The Hamilton Photography of Jack Whorwoodhttp://www.historyandheritage.ca/exhibits/2010/2/1/fragments-the-hamilton-photography-of-jack-whorwood.htmlH+H2010-02-01T21:25:46Z2010-02-01T21:25:46ZJack Whorwood has been taking photographs all of his life. In fact, he earned his living as a professional photographer for decades. Although now officially retired, Jack is nevertheless still a photographer. As he says, "You simply never stop being a photographer, whether you're being paid or not."

The exhibition of Jack's photographs in the "fragments" exhibition feature dozens of his black and white images taken during the late 1950's through to the mid 1970's in downtown Hamilton. From Gore Park the way it was, to the before and after of Jackson Square and of York Boulevard. But Jack Whorwood did not simply record the way it was. His images demonstrate his remarkable eye for urban details. They include the buildings in Hamilton's core, as well as the people who lived and worked in those buildings. His is an emotionally infused catalogue of the Hamilton that is now, for so many, simply history.﻿]]>ForWARD Thinking - Interesting Facts About Hamilton's 15 Wardshttp://www.historyandheritage.ca/exhibits/2010/2/1/forward-thinking-interesting-facts-about-hamiltons-15-wards.htmlH+H2010-02-01T21:16:31Z2010-02-01T21:16:31ZHamilton HIStory + HERitage, in association with the Hamilton Historical Board, is pleased to present ForWARD Thinking. Think of it as the multi-media version of the Ward Fact Sheets project that was completed last year by the HHB and H+H.

A set of 15 fact sheets, one for each ward, was presented to Councillors to use within their own wards. Well, now you can watch the fact sheets on the monitors at HIStory + HERitage. Each ward has its own five minute video piece. All are full of colourful, sometimes arcane, and always interesting facts about the neighbourhoods and wards in which we live.]]>The Jewish Hamilton Projecthttp://www.historyandheritage.ca/exhibits/2009/10/29/the-jewish-hamilton-project.htmlH+H2009-10-29T19:58:48Z2009-10-29T19:58:48ZRemembering Jewish Hamilton, an oral history project.

The Jewish Hamilton Project features Jewish Hamiltonians reminiscing and reflecting on their experiences of living Jewish lives in Hamilton. The project focuses on areas of everyday life such as education, the Synagogues, the neighbourhood, occupations and anti-semitism. In the process, the view comes to appreciate the vibrancy of Jewish community life in Hamilton particularly during the 1930s through the 1960s.

Produced by Wendy Schneider and Billy Shaffir.

From November 13th to January 8th, 2010.

]]>So, That's Thathttp://www.historyandheritage.ca/exhibits/2009/10/29/so-thats-that.htmlH+H2009-10-29T19:51:34Z2009-10-29T19:51:34ZSo, That's That - The Illustrated Life of Junky Jack Thornborrow

Hamilton-born artist/illustrator, Joan Thornborrow Steacy's gift to her father on his 100th birthday was a remarkable illustrated history of her father's life from his early years in England, to the rest of the is life in and around Hamilton. Now a multi-media piece produced by Hamilton HIStory + HERitage.